Recoil snubber for guns



Jan. 31, 1967 s. c, BAKER 3,300,889

' RECQIL SNUBBER FOR GUNS Filed April 22, 1965 I N VENTOR.

ATTOR/l/EV United States Patent Ofiice Patented Jan. 31, 1967 3,300,889RECOIL SNUBBER FOR GUNS Stephen C. Baker, Detroit, Mich., assignor tSu-Ev, Inc., Birmingham, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 22,1965, Ser. No. 450,059 3 Claims. (CI. 4274) This invention relates tofire arms in general and more particularly to a recoil snubbingmechanism for use with rifles, shot guns, and other like small armdevices.

Considerable difiiculty, inconvenience and personal injury isexperienced every year and the year around by hunters and skeet trapshooters alike due to the recoil and kick of almost all guns when theyare fired. Professional hunters and riflemen are known to spend greatsums for different guns with better weight and balance characteristicsto offset this problem. And many different solutions to the problem havebeen offered.

The most recent and notable solution offered to absorb the shock ofrecoil, when a gun is fired, is the so-called hydrac-oil system. Thismakes use of fluid piston cylinders which are mounted in a gun barrelstock and are connected to a butt plate and sleeve arrangement fittedabout the stock. The device is very expensive, completely changes theappearance of the gun, or at least the stock, thusly making its presenceknown, and has not proven overly effective.

Those who own expensive guns pearance of plastic stocks, usually presentwith known shock absorbing devices. Not only is the general appearanceobjectionable, but the plastic material may crack and is usually cold,damp, and slippery in service. Further, and perhaps of greaterimportance than at first apparent, the pride of a sportsman precludesthe known and obvious use of artificial means to improve his skill.

Although other like devices with shock absorbing springs and/or recoilpads or like devices have been tried, nothing is known to have come veryclose to solving the problem up until now.

This invention is directed to a device which may b wholly and completelydisposed within the stock or handle of a small fire arm device. It issmall, compact, relatively simple to manufacture, assemble and install,and highly effective in-use. It does not alter the appearance of the gunin which used nor does it require extensive work to enable its use witha gun.

It is an object of this invention to provide a recoil absorbing orsnubbing device which includes a cylindrical member that may be fittedinto the tang screw bore, in the stock of a gun, or like access forshock absorbing purposes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device which will buttagainst the gun barrel, in essence, to better receive and dissipate theshock force incident to firing of the gun.

It is an object of this invention to make use of the ordinaryconstruction of the conventional type gun to accommodate the device inquestion and to require no alteration thereto in most instances.

It is an object of this invention to provide a closed and sealedassembly for use in the stock of a gun and which includes a weightedmember fitted in a cylinder and positioned between the closed ends ofthe cylinder by centering springs. The initial effect of the weightedmember to a shock load, in combination with the spring do not like theapforces, fit of the member in the cylinder and metered bleeding ofentrapped air contributes to the effectiveness of the device.

These and other objects and advantages to be gained in the practice ofthis invention will be better understood and appreciated upon a readingand study of the following specification in regard to a preferredembodiment of the invention and with particular reference to theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a partially cross-sectioned view of the stock end of a rifleshowing the present invention in use therewith.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the various parts inserted with thepresent invention in the stock of a rifle or other gun.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged and cross-sectioned eleva' tional view of thedevice of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectioned, fragmentary and enlarged view of the gunstock shown in the first figure as seen in the plane of line 44 andshowing the device hereof provided therein.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic sketch of a rifle with vector force arrowsincident to the firing thereof shown in connection therewith.

FIGURE 6 is a force-distance diagram of the shock absorbingcharacteristics of the device heretofore shown.

The gun 10 shown in the first drawn figure includes a frame or receiverpart 12 including the barrel (not shown in the first figure) which hasthe wooden stock 14 secured to it by a tang screw 16. The tang screw isaccessible through a bore 18 in the stock and it extends from the end ofthe bore through a close fitting hole 2% to where the screw is threadedinto engagement with the receiver 12.

A butt plate 22 closes the tang screw bore or hole 18 and it is heldengaged to the end of the stock 14 by a couple of screws 24 and 26either or both of which are easily removed.

The bore hole 18 is at a slight angle and passes upwardly from the buttplate 22 towards the receiver 12.

The tang screw may be a round or fiat headed screw, as shown, and seatsin a washer 28 at the bottom of the bore hole 18.

A recoil snubbing device 30, including the inventive aspects of thepresent invention, is provided in the bore hole 18 and is seated againstthe end of the tang screw 18 and against the washer 28 at the bottomthereof. Behind it is provided a Styrofoam core plug 32 which is cut tosize, as shown by the phantom line 33 of FIGURE 2, when it is installed.

The snubbing device 30 is of substantially the size and fit to bereadily received in the bore hole 18 with-- out forcing and withoutundue clearance. Further, the core plug 32 holds it snug and againstmovement laterally or endwise in the bore hole.

Referring now to FIGURE 3:

The recoil snubbing device 30 includes a hollow tubular member 34 whichis closed by members 36 and 38 at its ends. Within the chamber space 40,in the tubular member 34-, is provided a solid weighted cylindrical member or mass 42. It is close fitted to the tubular member, but isrelatively movable therein and has an air bleed metering orifice 44provided axially through it.

The end closure members 36 and 38 include spring seat cups 40 and 42,respectively, in which are received the outer disposed ends ofcompression springs 46 and 48. The springs are open wound helicalsprings which have an outer diameter smaller than the inner dimension ofthe tubular member 34 so that they are received in concentric spacedrelation therein.

The mass 42 is of a known weight and the springs 46 and 48 provide aknown compressive load at rest, being in partial compression asinstalled, and a known forcedistance load in service.

The mass 42 is fitted to the tubular member 34 with minimum clearance,but it is also prepared for minimum frictional resistance in therelative movement of one to the other. This causes air compressivechamber spaces 50 and 52 to be formed and provided on opposite sides ofthe weighted member 42.

With the weight of the mass 42, force of the springs 46 and 48, size ofthe clearance and air compressive chamber spaces 50 and 52, and size ofthe air bleed orifice 44 all known, the inertial responsive of the mass42 to a shock load, such as is incident to firing a gun, can be readilycomputed and adjusted to best suit the circumstances.

As will be later described, the angular disposition of the shockabsorbing device 30 and its shock transmitting engagement with the gunbarrel are also factors to be taken into consideration and are a part ofthis invention.

In field service, a slight weight in the stock of a gun is often addedto enable the gun to point faster, smoother and with greater case. Thisis commonly done with skeet, trap and field shooting and contributes tobeing able to get off a second shot.

Many guns are provided with a bore hole in the stock for this purpose,as well as for access to the barrel retaining tang screw when it ispresent. Accordingly, in most instances the bore hole 18 for the shockabsorber or snubber 30 of this invention will not have to bespecifically provided.

It is important that the bore hole 18 for the snubber 30 to be at anangle of about 15 however, and where a hole is not already provided, asin custom stocks, care should be exercised to meet this generalrequirement. In most guns the required angle is a normal incident ofpassing the tang screw through the neck of the stock from its butt end.

The snubber 30 is hermetically sealed so that it is free of dust, gritand dirt and should not be tampered with in service.

The springs 46 and 48 are sufficiently stiff so that, with the aircompression resistance in the end chamber spaces 59 and 52, the mass 42will not bottom if tapped against a fixed surface nor under the shockload expected in service.

It will be appreciated that what happens when the gun 10 is fired isthat the initial response of the gun, the tendency to move rearwardly orkick, is resisted by the inertial effort of the mass 42. With the mass42 seeking to stay at rest, the tubular member 34 moves with the gunstock in which provided, and the relative movement of the mass forwardis resisted by both the forwardly disposed spring 48 and the compressiveload that builds up in the chamber space 52 in front of the piston-likeinertial responsive mass.

The resistance of the spring 48 increases with the relative movement ofthe mass 42 and accordingly, alone, would need a longer stroke before itcould become effective.

On the other hand, the resistance of the air compressive load in thechamber space 52 is almost immediate, without the bleed hole 44, and ofitself would not be less effective.

Further, with both the spring 48 and the air compressive load 52 on thepiston mass 42, taken alone or together, the energy built up would laterbe dissipated in a forward kick of the gun which would be equally asobjectionable as the reactive kick intended to be eliminated.

The air bleed orifice 44 eliminates this problem in providing acontrolled air bleed and with it the spring force and air compressiveloads may be used together to give a more constant and less reactivesnubbing action than would otherwise be possible.

Reference to FIGURE 6 discloses the damping force 54 of the aircompressive space and that of the spring force, identified 56. The aircompressive resistance builds up at first, due to the air bleed orifice,and also provides for a dissipation near the end of the reactive strokeof the mass 42. Although not specifically shown, it will be appreciatedthat the effort of the reactively compressed spring 48, to move thepiston mass 42 back is resisted by the compressive load which is shiftedto the other side of the piston mass and that the metering orifice againcomes into service.

FIGURE is a vector analysis of the recoil effect in firing the gun andshows the countering effect of the snubber of this invention. The recoilforce is represented by the arrow 60 and its radial distance above theaxis of pivotal support for the gun 10, identified as 62 on the butt endof the gun stock, explains the moment force which is what causes themuzzle end of the gun to lift, or whip, if not on true center; asrepresented by the smaller arrow 64 at the greater distance from thepivotal axis.

The upward kick of the gun 10 is resisted by the downward force or pullof the person shooting the gun, represented by the arrow 66 under thebarrel and where it is normally held in being steadied, aimed and fired.

The snubbing device 30 of this invention being en gaged to the tangscrew 18 which is in turn engaged to the gun barrel, is in direct shocktransmitting engagement with the barrel and the force vectors areaccordingly shown at the point of the engagement of the barrel to thegun stock.

Since the snubber 30 is at an angle, the resistance force represented bythe arrow 68 includes the components shown by arrows 70 and 72. Thelarger force acts in opposition to the recoil force of vector forcearrow 60 and the smaller component is in a moment cancelling relation tothe vector force arrow 66 relative to the intermediate support positionof the barrel.

From the foregoing, a general appreciation of the effectiveness of thepresent device should be more apparent and better understood.

The simplicity of parts, their construction and manufacture, ease ofassembly, etc. are considered self-evident.

Although a preferred form of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, this is done without intent to unduly limit the scope orspirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is to be given thefull scope of the language of the hereinafter appended claims except asexpressly limited thereby.

I claim:

1. Means for snubbing weaponry recoil in shoulderfired armament, andcomprising:

a shoulder-fired weapon having a stock and a barrel frame attachedthereto,

a bore hole provided in said stock and axially aligned towards the endof said barrel frame engaged to said stock,

a tubular member closed at opposite ends and having an inertialresponsive mass provided centrally therewithin,

said mass being close fitted in said tubular member and having an airbleed orifice provided therethrough,

spring means in compression between the ends of said tubular member andthe ends of said mass for holding and returning said mass to a balancedposition centrally within said tubular member,

and means for holding said tubular member securely in said bore hole fordisposing said mass in inertial responsive resistance to the recoileffort in the firing of said weapon.

2. The Weaponry recoil snubbing means of claim 1,

said bore hole being provided in the terminal end of said stock andhaving shock transmitting means provided between the inner end thereofand the barrel frame of said Weapon.

3. The weaponry recoil snubbing means of claim 1,

said tubular member being hermetically sealed and said air bleed orificebeing provided centrally through said inertial responsive mass.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnson 4274Taylor 89198 Swartz 421 Hanel 89-44 Ivy 42-74 Settles et a1. 89-198 Hoge42-74 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

1. MEANS FOR SNUBBING WEAPONRY RECOIL IN SHOULDERFIRED ARMAMENT, AND COMPRISING: A SHOULDER-FIRED WEAPON HAVING A STOCK AND A BARREL FRAME ATTACHED THERETO, A BORE HOLE PROVIDED IN SAID STOCK AND AXIALLY ALIGNED TOWARDS THE END OF SAID BARREL FRAME ENGAGED TO SAID STOCK, A TUBULAR MEMBER CLOSED AT OPPOSITE ENDS AND HAVING AN INERTIAL RESPONSIVE MASS PROVIDED CENTRALLY THEREWITHIN, SAID MASS BEING CLOSE FITTED IN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND HAVING AN AIR BLEED ORIFICE PROVIDED THERETHROUGH, SPRING MEANS IN COMPRESSION BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND THE ENDS OF SAID MASS FOR HOLDING AND RETURNING SAID MASS TO A BALANCED POSITION CENTRALLY WITHIN SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER SECURELY IN SAID BORE HOLE FOR DISPOSING SAID MASS IN INERTIAL RESPONSIVE RESISTANCE TO THE RECOIL EFFORT IN THE FIRING OF SAID WEAPON. 